6.3 Air Quality Buffers

Vegetation in buffers can affect local and regional air quality in three main ways: temperature reduction, removal of air pollutants, and energy effects on buildings.

Temperature reduction: Lower air temperature due to trees and other vegetation can reduce emissions of many temperature-dependent pollutants.

Removal of air pollutants: Plants remove air pollutants by uptake via leaves and by intercepting airborne particles. Pollutants captured by vegetation are often transferred to the soil. While soils and plants will render some pollutants nontoxic, the final destination, form, and impact of the pollutants should be considered.